The afternoon sun slanted into the Class B classroom, bathing the neat rows of desks in warm gold. The last notes of the school bell still lingered in the air. Most of the students were leisurely packing their bags, talking about what to have for dinner or where to unwind that evening. The atmosphere was as light and cheerful as ever.
Yet Ichinose Honami felt as though an invisible thread were pulling at her heart, keeping her from joining in the easygoing mood. She drew a deep breath, as if steeling herself for a decision, her fingertips turning faintly white with the force of her grip. Rather than immediately joining the girls' usual chatter, she picked up her bag and headed straight for the classroom door.
"Honami, want to go to karaoke with us later?" one girl called cheerfully.
Ichinose stopped and answered with a slightly apologetic smile. Sunlight fell across her pink-gold hair, giving it a gentle halo. "Sorry, I have something to ask Hoshinomiya-sensei about. You girls go on ahead."
Her smile was as warm as ever, but a perceptive person might have noticed the trace of gravity hidden beneath it. She hurried out of the classroom, her heels tapping against the hallway floor with unmistakable urgency.
Standing outside the teachers' office, Ichinose took another deep breath to steady her quickening heartbeat, then gently knocked on the door.
"Come in~" came Hoshinomiya-sensei's distinctive voice from inside, lazy and sweet.
Ichinose opened the door and went in. Hoshinomiya-sensei sat behind her desk, holding a steaming cup of black tea. When she saw Ichinose, an amused smile spread across her face. "Oh my, Ichinose. What a rare visitor. What's the matter? Is something troubling you? I'd be happy to be your confidante~"
Ichinose walked up to the desk and clasped her hands nervously in front of her, though her voice was unusually firm. "Hoshinomiya-sensei, I'd like to confirm something with you. Is there really a system of... 'expulsion' at this school? And the personal points we receive every month aren't fixed—they could even... be reduced to zero?"
Hoshinomiya-sensei's hand paused as she held her teacup. Her smile remained, but a flicker of delight passed through the depths of her eyes. She gently blew on the steaming tea instead of answering directly. "Why do you ask, Ichinose? Did you hear an interesting rumor?"
"Please answer me directly, sensei." Ichinose didn't waver. Her blue eyes were full of resolve. "This concerns the future of everyone in Class B. And I'd also like to know how many personal points I'd have to pay if I wanted information about how this school operates—or the 'truth.'"
Hoshinomiya-sensei studied Ichinose for several seconds, as if weighing her resolve. Then she set down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and lowered her voice as though sharing a secret. "How impressive, Ichinose. It's only been a week since school started, and you've already gotten to the heart of the matter. But I can't tell you anything." She held up two fingers and waved them in front of Ichinose. "As for the price of the 'truth'... the official rate is two million personal points. No discounts."
"Sensei, you didn't... deny it..."
Though she'd prepared herself for this, hearing her homeroom teacher confirm it—and learning that the price was the astronomical sum of two million—made Ichinose's heart sink. A chill rose from the soles of her feet and spread through her whole body. This wasn't a guess or an alarmist rumor. It was a cold, cruel reality.
"...I understand. Thank you very much, Hoshinomiya-sensei." Ichinose's voice was a little hoarse, but she did her best to stay composed. She bowed, then left the office.
The door closed behind her, shutting out Hoshinomiya-sensei's meaningful gaze. Ichinose leaned against the cold wall and slowly let out a breath. She raised her hand and looked at her slightly trembling fingertips, but what came to mind was Natsukawa Sosuke's seemingly casual yet certain expression.
He really... got everything right. And the price is only half as much...
Complicated emotions churned inside her—shock at the cruel rules, worry about the future, but more than anything, intense curiosity about that mysterious boy and a trust she couldn't quite explain. How had he noticed and figured it all out? Why did he want to help her? Just who was he?
The next morning, in the Class B classroom.
There was still some time before the first lesson, but most of the students had already arrived. Unlike the lively mornings they were used to, the classroom felt subdued today. Ichinose Honami stood at the podium, both hands gripping its edge as she looked over every familiar face below. Her usual radiant smile, bright enough to melt snow, was gone. In its place was a rare, solemn seriousness.
"Everyone, please quiet down. There's something very important I need to tell you." Her voice carried clearly to every corner of the classroom. The remaining whispers died away at once, and every gaze turned toward her.
Ichinose calmly and clearly explained her suspicions about the school's supposed "paradise," along with what Hoshinomiya-sensei had confirmed the previous day. She didn't mention Natsukawa by name, using "Friend A" instead.
"...In short," Ichinose said, her voice trembling slightly, "the school's claim that it's based on 'merit' is true. Poor performance won't just cost us personal points. We could even face 'expulsion.'"
"Whoa—!"
Like a bomb dropped into a calm lake, the entire Class B classroom erupted!
"E-Expulsion?!"
"Ichinose, is that true? Did Hoshinomiya-sensei really say that?"
"Were we deceived?"
Fear, disbelief, anger... All sorts of emotions mingled on the students' faces. They exchanged panicked glances, as if the foundation they'd relied on to survive had suddenly collapsed. It had been only a week since school started, and most of them had just begun to revel in their privileged surroundings. This news hit like a sudden slap to the face, jolting them awake just as they'd sunk into a deep sleep.
Yet after the initial chaos, another emotion began to emerge: shock at "Friend A."
"What kind of person could see through all this in such a short time?" one boy muttered, his face full of disbelief.
"It's only been a week since school started! We're still figuring out which cafeteria dishes taste best, and this guy's already trying to sell the school's deepest secrets!"
"Is he even human? How did he do it? Did he get the script before enrolling?"
The classroom buzzed with discussion. Everyone was shaken by this "expert," hidden in the fog. His insight, almost like foresight, inspired not only fear but a trace of awe. Compared to him, they seemed like babies sleeping in a bed of luxury.
Looking at her panicked classmates, Ichinose was also filled with admiration for Natsukawa. She raised a hand to quiet everyone down.
"Please, everyone, stay calm!" Her voice had a strange soothing power, and the commotion eased a little. "Yes, we're facing a crisis. But the person who told us about it has also given us a choice."
She paused, meeting every doubtful and anxious gaze with unwavering determination. "He promised that if we pay one million personal points, he'll tell us everything he knows about this school's 'secrets' and rules. He also guaranteed that this 'one million' would be worth every point. And I confirmed with Hoshinomiya-sensei that the school charges two million for this kind of information."
"O-One million?!"
"That's half the price Hoshinomiya-sensei quoted!"
"But a million is still a lot! Should we really trust someone whose identity we don't know?"
The classroom erupted again, and the shock was even greater this time! Not only had this person seen the crisis coming, he also had a "survival guide" worth a million points in his hands? This was beyond the capabilities of an ordinary first-year. He seemed more like a strategist, already seeing a dozen moves ahead while everyone else was still learning the board.
"I understand your hesitation and unease." Ichinose raised her voice slightly, her sincerity and strength shining through. "I can't force you to trust him. But I'm willing to. While the rest of us were still immersed in a false sense of security, he was already warning us. And the price he named proves his sincerity—he could have charged two million, just like the school."
She looked around at them, her gaze gentle yet resolute. "I'll give everyone a day to think it over. If we decide to buy the information, the one million points will be split evenly among everyone in Class B. This isn't just about obtaining information. It's about facing the challenges ahead together, without leaving anyone behind, and moving toward the future we all hope for!"
She didn't use any lofty words, but her heartfelt desire to protect everyone, along with her unreserved trust and sense of responsibility, carried more weight than any speech. As many of her classmates looked at her, the panic in their eyes gradually gave way to determination.
That afternoon, as school let out.
Just as Ichinose was preparing to leave the classroom, a steady voice called out to her.
"Ichinose."
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